Featured Lexus President-Electric Car Push Too Soon

they don't change their stripes i guess. but toyota hasn't really jumped in feet first either.

if your bottom line is profits, he's probably right.

 

You forgot?

They are the originator of “You don’t have 4 hours to waste.”

Guess Lexus staring in “You don’t have 4 hours to waste 2” as well.

I guess VW will be my next EV with 2 interesting cars coming out in 2020 and 2022. And guess what they replace.... Toyota/Lexus!

 

I would rather some manufacturers sit on the sidelines to see how this is all going to play out. Why invest when EV market is still small.

 

Lexus may get an EV in very short time. As long as Toyota has one (some say early 2020), is just a matter of wanting it done.

My concern is this:

“If we are looking for the best solution it is my opinion that the best solution is not only EV; we must consider petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell. If we focus on EV only we will not provide the answers people need.”

Well, FCVs can't charge at home, while 2 million EVs already built (and over a million a year) can.

 

There are two factors for Lexus, (1) what the "natural" demand is, and (2) government programs to favor EV. Also I tend to think Toyota/Lexus tend to value what is good for Japan, which may be different priorities, may be less advocacy for EV there. Meanwhile they face strong EV advocacy movement in EU/USA.

 

i suspect they will jump in when they lose enough sales. who knows how long the will be with oil prices.

 

Lexus ES Sales Figures | GCBC
Lexus RX Sales Figures | GCBC

At least in the US we can expect the Lexus ES, Lexus's best selling sedan to lose sales next year. They have been losing sales already without the competition from the model 3. Model 3 sales should be more than double Lexus ES sales this year.

Don't get me wrong, IMHO many people would love the fit and finish and interior of the ES versus the model 3, but the drivetrain, even the hybrid is not close. A 10+ kwh, ES phev would likely stop the bleeding, but the bleeding will happen in the north american market soon.

Lexus's best selling vehicle is the RX, and I don't expect a tesla competitor until the Y, and that probably won't be in high quantity until 2022. Lexus has 5 years ;-)

This will of course be different in Japan, and could be in europe, but Lexus North America needs to get moving.

 

the thought process may be (and i don't totally disagree) that pent up demand will taper off at some point, and the completion along with it.
no one knows that answer, but whoever forecasts best, as always, will come out ahead.

 

Toyota/lexus gained market in the last few years by going hybrid first.

They will lose ALL those customers even quicker. Who ever owned a hybrid wants an ev (maybe phev first)

So for sure they will tumble down. It is already too late. They will loose to tesla, vw, bmw and gm

 

Oil prices aren't a factor for China's EV market.

 

doesn't toyota already have a bev there?

 

They have to. Who would buy a car that cannot be registered for street use?

Wonder how VW can do to take some sales away. Audi and VW have their SUV ev coming out soon, unlike Toyota or Honda. I am eyeing on the idCrozz (replace my Rav4ev), then idBuzz (replace my Sienna).

 

some companies talk, some walk. we'll see who shows up to contest tesla. i don't buy hype.

 

The Kona BEV will be there before them.

 

From the looks of things, the time for sitting
(on one's hands) on the sidelines is passed:

Monthly Plug-In Sales Scorecard
.

 

not when you put it side by side with the gasser scorecard.

 

Well, yeah ... too soon for them, otherwise the #1 sales spot might have been theirs, instead of the #1 spot going to the company that realizes the time was yester-year, & you've been left behind..
Monthly Plug-In Sales Scorecard
Apparently Toyota Lexus still believes the times right now - are for hydrogen

.